Index



Jail '31, 1933. I G. H. DAWSON ET AL INDEX Filed Sept. 21, 1951 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Ira/e72 tans, 660236 Hfiawsarz,

E dward A .fi 1027a,

Irc e g/yjck 401a,?" rays.

Jan. 31, 1933. DAWSON ET AL 1,895,651

INDEX Filed Sept. 21, 1931 4 Shets-Sheet 4 Inven tors, Gewye fl. Dawson,

EdwardA. flan/z, u Arckerjlfifiicirer on Jrr wwmd M Patented Jan. 31,1933 UNITED STATES GEORGE E. DAWSON, oE CAMBRIDGE'MASSACHUSETTS, EDWARDAJDUEN, E :PLAI

FIELD, NEW JERSEY, AND ARCHER M. NIoKEEsoN, an; OF WOLLASTON, MAssAcnU-SETTS, ASSIGNORS TO SERVICE BUREAU, INCL, or CAMBRID E, AssAoH sE'r'rs,A

CORPORATION OI MASSACHUSETTS I DEX 7 Application filed S tember 21,1931. 'Serial no, 563,996.

This invention relates to index devices and pertains more particularlyto improvements in filing trays or containers for holding folders,record sheets, pockets, index cards or the like. The principal purposesof the in- Vention are to provide a strong, durable and portable traywhich may be completely at closed to protect its contents from dust ormoisture and which holds the indexed material in convenient position foreasy location and ready removal for the purpose of inspection orposting; and to arrange a plurality of folders within the container insuch a manner that any one of the folders maybe partially lifted fromthe group and will be supported in raised position, whereby the contentsof the elevated folder may be quickly and easily removed andsubsequently replaced without wasting the time and effort usuallyexpended in r'efiling the indexfrha:

terial or the entire folder and contents. 7

To this end, the improved index or file provides several advantageousfeatures of structure and arrangement which are hereine after moreparticularly described in connection with the accompanying drawings. ofrecommended embodiments of the invention, and which are pointed out inthe appended claims. It will be understood, however,that

the structural details of the devicesherei'n set forth may be varied tosuit particular purposes without departing from the'spi'rit of thisinvention as defined in saidclaims. In the drawings, 4 Figs. 1 and 2 areside and front elevations, respectively, of the improved index tray, thetray being supported upon a movable table; Fig. 3 is a centrallongitudinal section'of the tray, showing the cover partially lifted andillustrating the preferred arrangement of its contents; c I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of the front end of the trayshown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of Fig. 3 with the cover removed;

Fig. 4, showing a modified arrangement of the folder contents; and YFig; 8'is, a frontview of Fig. 7.

of oneof the folders t":

the purpose of illustration, the tra is niade of sheet-metal and has abottom. ,sides8 and front and rear wallsfi) and 10 respective: ly, thefront and rear walls having upper ex tensions 11 and 12 projecting abovethe sides 8, lateral flanges 13 and 14, overlapping said sides,and'bottom flanges l5 and 16 underhanging the base -7. These parts-maybe united by spot weldingor by'any suitable fastenings to provide astrong and rigid structure. 'As'shownin Figs. 1 and 2, the tray issupported upon the platform 17 'of a wheeled table 18, but it will beunderstood that anysuitable desk or table may be used for this purposeand that the trays maybe housedin a closed cabinet when not in use. iThe tray may be made inthe usual-standard sizes and is adapted tocontain files,

folders, sheets, cards, or, other filing material Which; is desirablycollected, classified by name or subject matter, and accessibly housedin'a safe and handy receptacle. Special advantages are afforded,however, by the provision .of an indexof the character illustrated, in,which a plurality of folders for in-. de'x'edimaterial are so assembledand compacted'within the tray that any one of the folders may bepartially withdrawn from the collection and will beheld in raisedposition preferably by frictional engagement of ad'- jacent folders,whereby theffolder contents maybe inspected or removed without disturbing the relation arrangement of the several-folders. y

For this purpose, the providedwith a panel 20 which extendsapproximately across its front end an'd'which isinclined forwardlytoward the traybottray is preferably tom; and an adjustable, uprightfollower block 21 of common type is arranged to slide longitudinally onthe tray bottom, thereby to compress the group of intervening fold; ers'22 between the vertical face of the follower and the; inclined surfaceof the panel 20. As the folder-supporting surfaces ,converge'upwardly,it is apparent that the upper portions of the folder are. normally'compressed to a greater degree than their folded lower portions 23 whichrest upon the tray bottom 24. Hence, when one of the folders iselevated, as shown in Figs. 3 and .4, it is frictionally supported inuplifted position by pressure of adjacent folders upon its oppositefaces or leaves. (It will be understood that the space between [thefolders is exaggerat ed in Figs. 3 and 4jof the drawings for thesake ofdistinctness; in practice, the fold- 1 ers are squeezed intojuxtaposition in accordance with this aspect of the invention.)

The folders 22 maybe made of heavy paper, cardboard or the like, and arefolded along their lower ends '23 to provide front.

overlapping relation upon .a relatively. stiff backer 29 of sheetmaterial. The backer and its attached sheets (which may beinterconnected as shown 'in Patent No. 1,7 61,877,

' dated June 3,1930) are inserted between the leaves of the folder untilthe lower edge of as indicate the backer seats on the bottom fold 23.The

backer is'preferably taller than leaf 26 and shorter than leaf 25, sothat the upper edge of the inserted backer is disposed 1ntfermediate'the to s of thelrespe'ctive folder leaves at 30 (Fig. 4).Hence,-when the folder is elevated the front leaf 25 may be. bent ortilted forwardly to expose the index cards on thebacker,-and theprojecting top of the backermay be grasped for the purpose of withdrawalby rapidandeasy shelf38, which is preferably apertured .tov

movements of the fingers of one hand. When the backer is removed forexamination or posting upon its'attached cards or record sheets 28, thefolder remains in place until the backer is refiled and pushed down tovrelocate the folder in normalposition' One upper corner of'the frontleaf preferably cut away as at 31 and the corre- ,sponding cornerof therear leaf 26 is colored as shown at 32 so that the absence of the foldercontents will be'revealed by exposure of the colored signal whether thefolder is in raised or'lowered position. In the latter position thepresence of the emptyyfolder may bedetected by fanning the index tabs tore-' veal the corners of the folders It will be understood that the.hacker is substantially as-wide as the folder leavesand that its up percorner covers the signal area .32 when the. backer is properly filed. Asthe backer I seats. at the bottom ofthe folder, it is also evidentthatthe index" or carrier strips suspended or mounted thereonxwill not befiling;- or handling, thereby preserving the folder contents andpreventing distortion or collapse of the folder leaves;

While the arrangement above described is particularly recommended as anaid to speedy, accurate and easy filing, the index trays'possess furtherfeatures ofmore general application which contribute to the pro- 7teotion of the tray contents and the portability of the container. Forexample, the tray is preferably provided witha cover 35 having front andrear ends 35 and 36 respective- 'ly and sides 37, corresponding to theshape of the open top of the tray. The cover is adapted to fit betweenthe upward extensions. 11 and 1 2 andlside flanges 13 and 14 of the,

ends of the tray, and said endsv are provided with supports 38 and; 39arranged app'roxi mately at the level of the tops of the sides 84 Thefront'support 38 may extend substan= tially across the tray and servesas a brace for the flanged upper end 40 of the panel 20 as well as seatfor'the forwardend of the cover. .One or more angle brackets'maybeaffixed to the rear wall lO to constitute the rear support 39. i

Rear wallextenslon 12 is preferablylcut outwardlyfbent ends44 ofapivoted handle 45. The rolled hinge sleeves 43 overhang the rearsupports 39 and hence furnish anintermediate channel for receiving therear end 36" of'the cover. Thus, when the cover end isv inserted betweenthe brackets'39 and'sleeves 43 in the manner shown in Fig. 3 it islocked against vertical displacement by the 'overhangingabutment'afiorded by the sleeves. I i

The front end of the cover closes upon the:

receive depending locking lugs 46 attached to the front cover wall 35."Suitable locking mechanism 47 having, for example, a sliding plate 48and a key-receiving sleeve 49 is v mounted beneath the shelf 38. Thecasing of the lock is alsoapertured to receivethelugs' 46and the slidingplate 48f'o'r other'locking elementis adapted to engagein the notched Ilugs in the usual manner to hold the cover in closed position. It isthus apparentthat the cover is held safely and securely by locking,mechanismat the front of the trayand by the overhanging sleeves at therear.

A pocket or recess 50 is provided in the front wall 9. for receiving thefingers of one hand while the other hand grasps the handle 45, therebyaffording convenient means for lifting and carrying the closed,container. When resting on the table 18, or a filing cabinet, thehandle. 45 may beswung' over the cover or against the back wall 10 asindicated by the broken -.line positions of Fig. 1., I

I An auxiliary front. handle 51 is' preferably provided for carrying'theuncovered tray when the finger recess is not accessible (for example,when the tray is housed in an opentop desk). As best shown in Fig. 6,this handle has its legs extending downwardly through registeringnotches or openings 52 in the shelf 38 and panel flange 40, and isformed with outwardly bent ends 53 which engage under said shelf whenthe handle 51 is lifted. In its normal position the handle rests byaction of gravity upon the .top of the shelf 38 and flange 40 with itsdepending legs disposed in the chamber between the front Wall 9 andpanel 20. It will be observed that casings of the locking mechanism 47and lifting pocket 50 are also located in said chamber, so that none ofthese elements reduce the filing space within the tray or interfere withthe folders 22. The tray front 9 may also have a label'holder 54; of anysuitable construction for displaying an index slip'55.

In the modified arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the folder 61contains record sheets 62 removably inserted within a series ofupstanding relatively overlapping pockets 63 respectively attached tocarrier strips 65 which areinterconnected and attached to the backer 66as illustrated in Patent No. 1,761,877, above mentioned. The backer 66fits within the folder in the same manner as above described, and thefolders 61 are preferably compacted within the index tray 67 aspreviously set forth. In the present arrangement, however, the backerusually remains inthe uplifted folder, and one or more of the sheets 62are removed from their pockets or envelopes 63 for posting. For easyremoval and reinsertion 0f the record sheets, the sheets are taller thanthe pockets and the rear portion or leaf 68 of each pocket projectsabove its front leaf, and is preferably provided with a flap 69 which isfolded over the margin of the front leaf 70 of the next adj acentpocket, (Fig. 8).

As the reinsertion of the record sheets might tend prematurely to movethe backer 66 and folded 61 downwardly, the front leaf of the folderpreferably has a hinged portion 71 which swings forwardly over the topsof the other folders when one of folders is lifted to its raised oraccessible position. The fold line 72 of the flap 69 may be locatedbelow the upper edge of the front leaf of the lowermost pocket so thatthe sheets 62 are readily available. The forwardly folded flap tends tosupplement the frictional engagement of adjacent folders in supporting aselected folder in elevated position; and by resting the hand upon theflap, the folder is positively held against displacement during removalor insertion of the index sheet. The exposed upper margins of the recordsheets may display a name or other index notation, and it is apparentthat several sheets may be located in any one of the pockets 63, ifdesired.

An index'constructed as herein described is adapted for various types-offiling systems and provides .a safe, compact and handy filingarrangement accommodating a very large number of record cards or sheetswhich are quickly accessible and which occupy a minimum of filing space.The important features of the improved arrangementare set forth in thefollowing claims, and we do not intend to limit this invention to theprecise construction disclosed as therein defined. l/Ve claim: i

l. Anindexcomprising'a folder having v 7 front and rear. leaves, thefront leaf being higher than the rear leaf, and a removable backingsheet disposed between-itheileaves and'having its lower edge normallyseating on thebottom ofthe folder, thebacking being shorter than thehigher leaf andlonger' than the lcwer leafof the folder so that-the topof the sheet is normally d'isp'osed'between the upper edges of therespective leaves, and index slips-mounted on the backing sheet andnormally supported above its bottom edge.-

7 2. An index comprising a folder having front and rear leaves, arelatively stifl? backer V removably inserted between-,the leaves andnormally seating on the bottom of the folder,

and index sheets detachably suspended on the front of the hacker, thefrontleaf of the folder having a relatively broad index'ttab providing ahandle for raising. the folder and flexingits front leaf ,tole'xposesaidiindex sheets. 7 r u An index comprising'a'tray, a plurality ofupright parallel" folders housed within the tray,..relati'vely stiffbackers removably inserted "between the front and rear .leavesof thefolders, index sheets mountedonf said backers, and means for compactingthe fold.- ers within the tray,the frontleaves. of the respectivefolders having hingedflaps'adapt ed to swing forwardly over the tops'ofother folders when a selectedfolder-is partially removed fromthetray; I1

. 4.. An index comprisingza tray having front, rear and side walls, thefront-and rear walls projecting above :the'sides, horizontal supportsmounted on the inner sides of the front and rear walls'respectively, theupper end of the rear wall having an-inward projection overhanging therear support, a re movable cover having its rearward fend fittingbetween said rear support an'clsaidpr'oj'ection and its forward endseated upon the front support, and means forlocking the for'ward end ofthe cover in closed position.

r 5. An index comprising -'a: trayhaving front, rear and sidewalls, thefront'and rear walls projecting upwardly above "the sides and havingside flanges fastened to the respective side walls, interior coversupports mounted on the front and'rear*wallsrespectively, a coveradapted-to rest on" said supports between the upward projections andside flanges of the front and rear:wall's, an inwardly directed abutmenton the upper edge ,of the rear wall overhanging the rear support toprovide a channel for receiving the-rearward end oflthe cover,sa1dabutment preventing vertlcal displacement of said cover end,

and means for securing the forward end of the cover upon its'support.

46. An index comprising a tray having front,;rear and side walls, thefront and rear walls projecting upwardly above the sides and having sideflanges fastened to the'outer surfaces of the respective side walls,interior cover supports mounted on the front and rearwalls'respec.tively, a cover adapted to rest on said supports bet'weenthe upward projections and side flanges of the front and rear walls,

the upper-endof the rear wall having ini wardly:rolledsleevesoverhanging the rear support to'providea channel for receiving therearward end of the cover, a handlepivoted in said sleeves, and meansfor securing the forwardvend of suppert. r I

7'. An index comprising a tray having the cover upon the front'front,'rear andsideiwalls, the frontand rear walls projecting upwardlyabove. the sides an'dlhaving side-flanges fastened to the respectiveside walls,interior cover supports I mounted on the front and rear wallsrespecv iupper'endof the rear wall having integraltively, a coveradapted-to rest on said'supports between the upward projections and sideflanges of the front and rear walls, the

' hinge sleeves overhanging the rear support,

-wall having a pocketfor receiving the fin- 'gers, whereby the coveredtray may be carand-a handle pivoted in said sleeves, the front ri'ed bygripping said handle and said pocket.

8;. Any index comprising a tray having front, rear-and'side walls, thefront andrear wallsv projecting upwardly above the sides "and havingside flanges fastened to the respective side walls, interior coversupports mounted on'the front and rear walls respec-. i tiv'ely, a.cover adapted to rest on said supports'between the upward projectionsand side flanges of the front and rear walls, the,

' upper end of. the rear Wall having integral hinge sleeves overhangingthe rear support, a hanidle pivoted in said sleeves, the front wallhaving. a pocket for receiving'the fingers, whereby the covered tray maybe carried by gripping said handle and said pocket, and an auxiliaryhandle movably mounted in the front support and normally restingthereon,

said auxiliary handle being concealed by the 'closed cover and adaptedto be pulled upwardly for use as a front handle of the uncovered tray;

9.- An index comprising a tray having front, rear and side walls, thefront and rear walls projecting upwardly above the sides, interior coversupports mounted-on the front and rear-walls; respectively approximatelyat the leveliyofthetops pfthe side walls, the

upper end of the rear wall having integral 7 hinge sleeves overhangingtherear support, a handle pivoted in said sleeves, a cover adapted torest on said supports andabove the sides of the tray, the rearward endof the cover fitting beneath said overhanging sleeves to prevent upwarddisplacement, thereof, an interior panel fastened to the rearward edgeof said front support and inclining. forwardly towardthe bottom 'of-thetray, and a handle .slidably-mounted on the front support, 1 the legs ofthe. handle passing through said supportintothe space between said paneland the front wall 'of the tray."

10; An index comprising a tray having front, rear and side walls, thefront and rear walls projecting upwardlyab ove the sides,

interior cover supports mounted on the front tray, the frontend .of'thecover having de--" pending lugs, and locking mechanism mounted on thefront'wallv of the tray and between said wall and'saidpanel for"engaging said lugs to secure the closedcover.

-11. An index comprising a-tray,a front panelinclining forwardly towardthe tray bottom, a followermovable toward and from said panel, theforward face of the follower being substantially vertical so that theopposed surfaces of the panel and follower converge upwardly, aplurality of folders compacted between said converging surfaces,

each folder having front and rear leaves connected at a bottom foldthereof, and backing sheets for index material removably. in-

'serted between the leaves of the respective folders, each backingsheet'being readily removable from and replaceable within its folderwhile the latter-is sustained in elevated position by pressure ofadjacent folders against its op'positesides. V I

12. An index comprising a tray, a. front panel inclining forwardlytoward the tray bottom, a follower movable toward and from said panel,the forward face of the follower being substantial ly vertical so] thatthe opposed surfaces of the panel and follower converge upwardly, aplurality of folders compacted between. said converging surfaces, eachfolder having front'and rear leaves connectedat ab'ottom fold thereof,and backing I sheets for index material removably inserted betweenth-eleaves of the respective folders,

the front. leaf being taller than the rear leaf and the backing sheetbeing taller than the rear leaf and shorter than the front leaf, wherebythe folder may be raised and opened by lifting and bending forward itsfront leaf to permit ready removal and replacement of the backing sheetwhile the folder is sustained in elevated position by pressure ofadjacent folders against its opposite sides.

13. An index comprising a tray, a front panel inclining forwardly towardthe tray bottom, a follower movable toward and from said panel, theforward face of the follower being substantially vertical so that the opposed surfaces of the panel and follower converge upwardly, a pluralityof folders compacted between said converging surfaces, each folderhaving front and rear leaves connected at a bottom fold thereof, andbacking sheets for index material removably inserted between the leavesof the respective folders,

the front leaf having a relatively broad index tab constituting a handlewhereby the folder may be raised and flexed forwardly by grasping thetab, thereby to permit ready removal and replacement of the backingsheet while the folder is sustained in elevated position by pressure ofadjacent folders against its opposite sides.

14. An index comprising a tray, a plurality of upright parallel foldershoused within the tray, index fillers removably inserted between thefront and rear leaves of the folders, said fillers comprisinginterconnected index sheets, and means for compacting the folders withinthe tray, the front leaves of the respective folders having hinged flapsadapted to swing forwardly over the tops of other folders when aselected folder is partially removed from the tray.

40 15. An index comprising a tray, a front panel inclined forwardlytoward the tray bottom, a follower movable toward and from said panel,the forward face of the follower being substantially vertical so thatthe opposed surfaces of the panel and follower converge upwardly, aplurality of folders compacted between said converging surfaces, eachfolder having front and rear leaves connected at a bottom fold thereof,and index fillers removably inserted between the leaves of therespective folders, each filler being readily removable from anreplaceable within its folder while the latter is sustained in elevatedposition by pressure of adjacent folders against its opposite sides.

Signed by the said GEORGE H. DAWSON and EDWARD A. DUNN at New York, NewYork, this 11th day of September, 1931.

GEORGE H. DAWSON. EDWARD A. DUNN.

Signed by the said ARCHER M. NICKERSON, Jr., at Cambridge,Massachusetts, this 17th day of September, 1931.

5 ARCHER M, NICKERSON, JR.

